Fooled? Global swarming – flight of the Penguins

01-04-2008

One of the first direct evolutionary responses to climate change has been observed in a species of penguin. A shrinking Antarctic ice shelf, a result of increasing global temperatures, has lead to a lack of breeding of sites and difficulty in finding food.

In response to these pressures a population of Adelie Penguins has rapidly evolved and reacquired the ability to fly. Film footage of this amazing development (see below) has been captured for the first time and the ornithological world has come together to highlight the dangers of climate change.

“Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the world’s birds. This species of penguin has evolved to cope with the rise in temperature and loss of ice but we should not be complacent and think that all species will manage”, says Dr Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Species Programme Coordinator. “With hundreds of species at imminent risk of extinction there has never been a greater need for conservation.”

BirdLife International is now highlighting another danger being posed to this newly evolved species of penguin.

“The ability to fly now means that these penguins are able to forage for food over a much wider area. However, this puts them at risk from longline fisheries”, says Adrian Long, BirdLife's Head of Communications.

Albatrosses and other seabirds are being unintentionally drowned in large numbers by "longline" fishing boats. Longlining is the single greatest threat to the world's seabirds.

BirdLife's Save the Albatross Campaign is trying to stop the needless slaughter of these magnificent birds by ensuring that relevant international agreements are implemented that will benefit both the birds and the legal fishing industry.

“It looks like we might have to rebrand this programme of work as 'Save the Albatross and flying penguin Campaign'”, Adrian adds.

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